Medicine or m erch andise c ase



(No Model.) 2 Sheets8heet 1.

F. 0. PEASE.

MEDICINE 0R MERCHANDISE CASE. No. 367,317. Patented July 26,1887.

4 I V a M jizezz ia' l I "4? 3; 1

I m Pnms-Pmvmm m. Wlfhington. p c,

2 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.)

I. 0. PEASE.

MEDICINE 0R MERCHANDISE CASE.

No. 367,317. Patented July 26, 1887.

N. rr'rzns. lfbolo-mncgnpher. Washingion n. cy

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' F. OLIN PEASE, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MEDICINE OR MERCHANDISE CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters'Patent No. 367,317, dated July 26, 1887.

Application filed May 15, 1885. Serial No. 165,552. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F. OLIN PEASE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Medicine or Merchandise Cases, of which the following isa specification, to wit:

This. invention relates to medicine or merchandise cases,- and it'conslsts in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the same, whereby the articles are held in the smallest possible space and moved when the case is opened, so as to. display each article properly, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter described and claimed.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure '1 is a perspective View of a partially-opened medicine'case, such as I shall describe. Fig. 2 is a view of the same on the line x .90, showing the devices for operating the holders. Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the bottle-carrying frames. Fig. 4 is an end view of a case containing a slightly-different operating device. Fig. 5 is a view of a modification of the device for elevating the bottles.

or represents a box or case of any desired style and size; but I have herein shown asmall hand-case for carrying medicines, such as are in common use among physicians. This case has one portion, a, on each side, hinged and adapted to be thrown back to reveal the contents, and this hinged portion may be made as large as required, or hinged half-way up the side, as in Figs. 1 and 2, or at the lower corners, as in Fig. 4, this being immaterial and controlled by the taste of the maker or desires'of the user. In such cases itis necessary to carry a large number of small bottles or similar receptacles for the different medicines used, and these are all labeled to prevent any mistake as .to their contents, and to economize space theyare placed side by side in rows. It is often necessary to search through the lot to find the particular one wanted, as those in front hide the labels on the ones in rear, and to avoid this I so arrange the case that while all stand of a height when the case is closed, when it is opened the rear rows are lifted one above the other to expose thelabels where they can be readily seen at a glance. I do this as follows:-

Within the case I arrange a series of small frames, 6, each independent of the other, and each frame is provided with aseries of small pockets, b, or equivalent devices for receiving and holding the bottles when they are in place. Each frame in Figs. 3 and 4 is also provided with a short shoulder or projection, b, on its lower rear corners, and a small lug or projection, I), on its lower forward corners, for a purpose to be presently stated. In the case and at each end of the frames I arrange two hollow walls, 0 0, within each of which is a cogged rack, 0, connected to the rear frame, I), through a slot, 0 in the inner side of the hollow wall, which allows the frame and rack to slide vertically, as .will be understood. Upon the hinged part a ofthe case is secured a cogged segment, d, at each end, which lies Within the hollow walls and engages the rack, as in Fig. 2.

The top of the case is attached to the hinged side and moves with it to expose the tops of the vials, and it will be seen that when the side is thrown down the first motion lifts with it, by means of the rack and segment-,the rear frame. When this frame has risen a short distance, its lugs 12 engage and lift the next frame, and this, after a short interval, similarly engages the succeeding one till the side of the case is entirely open and the rows of bottles rise in tiers one above the other, as in being changed as desired,according to the size of the case.

I do not desire to confine myself to the rack' and segment for operating the sliding rows,

as other devices may of course be usedwith good efi'ect. Ihus in Fig. 4 lI-have repre sented the end ofa case having ahollow wall, as before, and a series of sliding frames to hold the vials. In this case I have placed in the hollow wall a sliding frame, 0, which carries the central rows and engages and lifts the others as it rises by means of the studs 0. This case has its hinged sides provided with rigid arms 0 which. lie under the frame 6 and lift it as the sides are opened.

By reference to Fig. 4; it will be clearly seen that when the sliding framec rises it first lifts the central rows, to which it is attached, and after they have been properly advanced it strikes against the studs 0 and lifts the other rows, thus obtaining the same effect as before.

In Fig. 5 I have represented the side piece, a, provided with an arm, 6', to extend into the hollow wall, which is by a slotted link, f, connected to a slide, f, working in avertical slot, f and carrying the inner sliding frame. It will be understood that the slidef is attached to the central frame or bottle-holder, and the holders being formed with shoulders, as in Fig. 2,they are all lifted successively as the central one rises. This device'lifts the frames successively, as described, and the joint of the linkfand arm a is provided with a st0p,f, to hold the whole firmly when lifted.

The case is provided with small pockets to hold powdenpapers, as at g. It will be evident that the use of this device need not be confined to medicine-cases, butthat itis equally applicable to cases for surgical instruments, perfumeboxes, sample-cases, spool-eases, and many other uses when it is desired to retain small articles of merchandise in the least possible space and yet advance them when desired to expose all equally, as will be at once understood. This is especially valuable in medicinecases, because the bottles are always held upright, and the contents are therefore not liable to come in contact with the corks. It is not necessary to connect the frames or slides directly to the movable part of the easing, as is evident, the only object being to properly advance the articles for display. The operating mechanism, substantially such as described, may be separate, inelosed entirely within and operated after the opening of the case, though I prefer the arrangement shown, as performing the whole at one operation.

I am aware that a jewelry-case has been made having a series of trays lying one upon the other and so connected that the opening of the case will slightly separate the trays, so that any particular one may be readily grasped for removal; but this is entirely different from the gist of my invention, which consists in advancing the trays or holders one beyond the other in successive order to expose the contents ofeach without removal.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a receptacle for medicine or merchandise, the combination, with the body of the case, of upwardly-movable bottle-trays arranged side by side, a hinged lid, and connections between the lid and one of the trays and between that tray and one or more other trays, whereby the opening or closing of the lid causes the successive rising or lowering of two or more of the trays, substantially as shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a receptacle for medicine or merchandise, a case or frame having a hinged portion provided with a cogged segment, in combination with a series of vertically-sliding holders or frames provided with slots and lugs, and one of them provided with a cogged rack engaging with the cogged segment, whereby as the case is opened the holders are lifted one after the other to expose their contents, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a receptacle for medicine or merchandise, a case provided with hollow end walls, and a hinged portion having a cogged segment working in the hollow walls, in combination with a series of vertically-sliding frames provided with recesses or shoulders on one side and projections on the other, and a rack-bar attached to one of said frames andv workingin the hollow walls, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

F. OLIN PEA SE.

\Vitnesscs:

W. C. MoARTHUR, FRANK STRATTON. 

